IBM storage


The IBM Storage product portfolio includes disk, flash, tape, NAS storage products, storage software and services. IBM's approach is to focus on data management.

Software

IBM Spectrum Storage

IBM Spectrum Storage portfolio can centrally manage more than 300 different storage devices and yottabytes of data.

IBM Spectrum Accelerate

The functionality of Spectrum Accelerate is based on the IBM XIV, a high-end disk storage system. IBM Spectrum Accelerate and XIV run the same base software stack and interoperate with features such as management, remote replication and volume mobility.

IBM Spectrum Scale

IBM Spectrum Scale is software-defined storage for cloud and analytics.
The product is very widely used in both commercial and academic environments. It has a history going back to the mid 1990s. It was known as GPFS before IBM re-branded all storage products in 2015.

IBM Spectrum Virtualize

IBM Spectrum Virtualize is a block storage virtualization system. Because the IBM Storwize V7000 uses SVC code, it can also be used to perform storage virtualization in exactly the same way as SVC. Since mid-2012 it offers real time compression with no performance impact, saving up to 80% of disk utilization. SVC can be configured on a Stretched Cluster Mode, with automatic fail over between two data centers, and can have SSD that can be used by EasyTier software to perform sub-LUN automatic tearing.

IBM Spectrum Control

IBM Spectrum Control provides infrastructure management for virtualized, cloud and software-defined storage.

IBM Spectrum Protect

IBM Spectrum Protect is a progression of the Tivoli Storage Management product.

IBM Spectrum Archive

IBM Spectrum Archive allows users to run any application designed for disk files against tape data without concern for the fact that the data is physically stored on tape.
IBM offers four options:
  • IBM LTFS Single Drive Edition access and manage data on a standalone tape drive as if the data were on disk
  • IBM LTFS Library Edition access and manage data on single or multiple cartridges in a tape library
  • IBM LTFS Storage Manager manage both online and offline files in IBM tape libraries
  • IBM LTFS Enterprise Edition run applications designed for disk files from tape storage

    IBM SmartCloud Storage Access

IBM SmartCloud Storage Access is a software application designed to create a private cloud storage service on existing storage devices. The software can be configured to allow users self-service, Internet-based access for account creation, storage provisioning and file management. The software offers simple management with monitoring and reporting capabilities, including storage usage by user and group definitions.

Active Cloud Engine

The Active Cloud Engine is a form of multiple site replication. ACE is designed to allow different types of cloud implementations to exchange data dynamically. ACE is designed to extend the SONAS capability for a single, centrally managed namespace, to a truly distributed, geographically dispersed, global namespace.

IBM Easy Tier

IBM Easy Tier is designed to automate data placement throughout the disk pool to improve the efficiency and performance of the storage system. Easy Tier is designed to relocate data across up to three drive tiers automatically and without disruption to application. IBM Easy Tier is available on the DS8000, Storwize and SAN Volume Controller.

Current hardware

After 2019, IBM dropped the HDD and SSD-based storage server series and all current lines provide only flash-oriented or tape-oriented solutions.

Flash storage

IBM FlashSystem

is a range of dedicated, non-SSD "all-flash" storage systems, based on a Intel x86 platform.
IBM acquired flash storage system maker Texas Memory Systems in 2012. In April 2013, IBM announced a plan for a $1 billion investment in flash storage research and development, and then the product line-up was renewed in 2014 with the announcement of the FlashSystem 840 and FlashSystem V840. IBM has been updating these models every year. The former IBM FlashSystem had 1U-size solutions only, but the current lineup contains rackable systems with 1U, 2U or 6U form-factor, and based on a 6U modules cabinet-size solution.
In 2017, FlashSystem brand replaced the XIV brand, and in 2020, FlashSystem replaced the Storwize brand.
IBM Data Engine for NoSQL is an integrated black-box device combining an IBM PowerLinux server with FlashSystem modules attached as non-volatile memory extension.The integrated system offers large capacity NoSQL services based on pre-loaded Redis, Cassandra and Neo4J, up to 57 TB in-memory instances.

DS servers

-based storage series, that offers specialized advanced functions optimized for IBM Power Systems and IBM Z servers; This line early known as System Storage DS series, and former TotalStorage DS series; current models slowly dropped the "System Storage" naming prior to simple line names. Currently DS series contains only DS8000 sub-line.

Tape and virtual tape systems

TS libraries and servers

Like the similar DS storage series, the tape system lines early known as System Storage TS series or former TotalStorage TS series and based on a IBM POWER controllers.
;TS7000 series
;TS4500
General purpose tape library series.
The IBM® TS4500 Tape Library is designed to help midsized and large enterprises respond to cloud storage challenges. It incorporates the latest generation of industry-leading linear tape-open and IBM enterprise class technology that will help organizations handle the growing data demands of modern tape use cases. including data volume growth, rising storage footprint costs, data migration efforts and the increased complexity of IT training and management as staff resources shrink.
;TS4300
IBM® TS4300 Tape Library is a high-density, highly scalable, easy-to-manage solution designed to keep data securely stored long-term, while helping reduce the costs associated with data center space and utilities. Its modular design enables you to increase cartridge and drive capacity as needed—scale vertically up to seven modules with expansion for Linear Tape-Open Ultrium cartridges, drives and redundant power supplies. IBM TS4300 enhanced modern data protection helps meet security and compliance requirements.
;TS2900
The IBM® TS2900 Tape Autoloader is an entry-level automated backup for rack systems and small to midsize businesses. With a low-profile, high-density storage capacity, the TS2900 is ideally suited for backup and archival operations. The TS2900 is available with half-height LTO Ultrium tape technology, with 6 Gbps SAS drive options. Web-based remote management and a bar code reader help provide ease of use. The TS2900 can be used in a rack system or on a desktop next to a server in an office.

TS readers

;TS2230 series
The IBM System Storage TS2230 Tape Drive, Model Type 3580, Model H3V, is a high-performance, high-capacity data-storage device that is designed to backup and restore open systems applications. It is the third generation in the Ultrium series of products, and is available with a Serial Attached SCSI interface. This model incorporates the Linear Tape-Open IBM Ultrium 3 Half-High Tape Drive.
;TS1150 series
The IBM TS1150 tape drive gives organizations an easy way to deliver fast access to data, improve security and provide long-term retention—and for less expense than disk solutions. TS1150 offers high-performance, flexible data storage with support for data encryption. This fifth-generation drive can help protect investments in tape automation by offering compatibility with existing automation. Plus, an upgrade model is available for existing IBM TS1140 tape drives. What’s more, TS1150 supports the LTFS format in IBM Spectrum Archive for direct, intuitive and graphical access to data.

Withdrawn hardware x86 lines

PureData servers

Was introduced in 2012 for replacing the Netezza line.

Flash storage

IBM DeepFlash

  • DeepFlash 150 is an ultra-high density SSD, based on a SanDisk InfiniFlash IF100 drawer and IBM Spectrum Scale software. It is directly attached via SAS to a maximum of 8 servers used as application cluster or as integrated device running some SDS storage management software. Its design point is lowest price per reliable capacity. In contrast, for lowest price per IOPS or best latency per invest, consider storage built around FlashSystem modules. Introduced in 2016.
  • DeepFlash Elastic Storage Server an integrated device combining one or two DeepFlash 150 drawers with IBM Spectrum Scale software for Exascale storage repositories with analytics capabilities. The DeepFlash-ESS can be clustered non-disruptively with existing IBM Elastic Storage Servers, up to a theoretical limit of 8000 clustered devices. It features file, object and Hadoop transparent access. Spectrum Scale offers automated data placement and lifecycle management from Memory to Flash to Disk to Tape, besides geographically distributed caching and replication.

    Other flash storage capabilities

High IOPS PCIe Adapters – PCIe card adapters for former IBM System x servers, offering capacities up to 2.4 TB. Moved to Lenovo.

HDD/SSD storage For entry and midrange workloads

IBM XIV

The IBM XIV Storage System was configured as cabinet-size solution and designed to work well in cloud and virtualized environments. The last XIV Gen3 model offers 2, 3, 4 or 6 TB drives, providing up to 485 TB of usable capacity per rack. SSD caching adds up to 12 TB of management-free high-performance data caching capability to the entire array. The system can also connect to external storage via Fibre Channel and iSCSi. The XIV line was replaced by IBM FlashSystem line.